Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, sweet Friends!  The Oregon Coast is one of my favorite places to visit--though we do not have dolphins as you see in this drawing, we often see whales blowing bushy streams of mist into the air, as they frolic in the waves of the sea.

The reference for this piece is my youngest sister Leigh--a lovely woman--as beautiful inside as she is on the outside.

Blessings and peace to everyone--May this New Year be one filled with joy, laughter and beauty.

Merry Christmas! -Paint Party Friday

Hello, sweet Friends.  Thank you for your patience.  I have been dealing with some depression over the loss of my sweetheart--granted it has been five years since he flew away to heaven, but this year I missed him extra lots.

This is my finished Christmas card.  I hope you enjoy it.  If you would like to see my reference photo and graphite sketch you can find it here: Christmas is Coming.  If you would like to see the pen and ink version you can find it here: Mary Did you Know?.

Thank you so much for dropping by, dear Friends.  Happy Paint Party Friday and Merry Christmas!

Mary Did you know? -Paint Party Friday

I have been working on my Christmas Card.  A Friend suggested the title of Mary Did You Know.  There's a song out by that name which I love--it is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.

If you would like to see my reference photo and the graphite draft, you can find it at Christmas is Coming.

Merry Christmas dear Friends.  Thank you so much for dropping by.  Blessings and peace be upon you this holiday season, and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Christmas is coming -Paint Party Friday

Here is my first draft of a Christmas Card I'm working for this year.  I apologize for being a little out of touch.  Since the fifth anniversary of my Beloved's home-going in October, I have been struggling with depression and sadness.

Art and the Lord are always my best help when I am feeling so down.  God is so good--and so are the friends He sends alongside.

Above is my reference photo.  It is of a beautiful nativity set I found.  I saw it a few years ago and fell in love with it.   I couldn't believe it when I spied it again--and on sale.

Thank you for dropping by sweet Friends.  God is good and I am grateful for your friendship.  Merry Christmas and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Sweet Sixteen -Paint Party Friday

Sweet Alexis turned 16 last week.  We had a little birthday party for her, and this was her gift.  Such a lovely young woman.  Wise beyond her years and gifted with a great sense of humor.  

Here is my reference photo.  She's not only lovely on the outside, but she is beautiful on the inside, too.  It is a great blessing and honor to be her friend and mentor.

Thank you for dropping by.  You dears are always an encouragement to my heart!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Fun Faces on Wood Rounds -Paint Party Friday

I had so much fun drawing these!  A couple of years ago, I bought a bag of pre-cut wood rounds from the craft store.  As an experiment I tried drawing on them with my micron pens.  It was a success as I  came up with these fun faces on wood.

Above is  a closeup of some of the faces I came up with.  I can't tell you how much fun this was.  I'm thinking these would be sweet to put into Christmas cards!

Thank you for dropping by--you dear ones always bring a smile to my face and hope to my heart.  Thank you for your encouragement and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Kitty Cat Library -Thursday Art Date

This is an ACEO I created for a friend of mine a few years ago.  It is the size of a baseball card, so was rather tricky to get in the lettering.

I taught cartooning to youngsters for years, so here you see my cartooning side coming out!

Have a lovely Halloween, and Happy Thursday Art Date!

Levi's Fantastic Adventure -Paint Party Friday

Two weeks ago my dear friends lost their sweet three-year old boy, Levi, to a rare type of brain cancer.  I was honored when his grandparents asked me to draw a picture of him with some very specific details.

Levi loved giraffes and sports.  He adored trains, too.  They also asked for a garden, ladybugs and those wonderful trees with Mount-Kilimanjaro in the background.  He loved the color blue.

When he saw the picture, Grandpa Nick said, "Only you could have done this."  And when I told him how many people had been praying while I worked on it, he replied, "I see God's hand all over this drawing." That is one of the greatest compliments I've ever been given.  I felt God guiding my pencil as I drew.

Above is my reference picture.  Isn't he the cutest, sweetest little fellow?  Please pray for his family as they grieve.

God bless you dear ones, thank you for dropping by--you are always, always a great encouragement to my heart. Happy Paint Party Friday!

Ready for the Undersea Halloween Masked Ball -Thursday Art Date

This pen and ink is one of the few Halloween drawings I've done over the years.  I thought the seaweed would make wonderful underwater jack o' lanterns.  :D

This mermaid and her buddy are headed to the Halloween masked ball at the great palace under the sea. I have always adored mermaids--this is one of my favorites. 

Have a great day, and be sure to drop by Rain's Garden for Thursday Art Date.

Gnome Glow -Paint Party Friday

Here is another Cloud Painting inspired by what truly seems to be a glowing gnome making his way across the skies. I was walking along the river watching the truly magnificent storm clouds chasing over the water, when I saw this fellow.

He seems good-natured and I imagined him humming a tuneless tune through his front teeth as he moseyed across the horizon.

I am re-posting this older cloud painting, because of the business of the week--thank you SO much for dropping by.  Your sweet comments always make my day!  Thank you for your encouragement and Happy Paint Party Friday.

Freedom Flight -Paint Party Friday

This drawing is an expression of freedom and hope, as well as a tribute to Fall.  I couldn't find my original reference picture, suffice it to say Faestock has some wonderful stock materials.

Our dear Uncle Lawrence flew away to heaven last week--so perhaps it is also an expression of letting go.  I am speaking on joy this weekend...there is joy in knowing he is in a better place, he can talk, run, laugh...  Yes, but oh, how we shall miss him. 

Have a lovely day, dear Friends.  Thank you for dropping by.  Your visits and comments always make my day.  Thank you for your encouragement and Happy Paint Party Friday.

Sisters Three -Paint Party Friday

I have a busy weekend ahead and last week I was just swamped.  So I am re-posting this older pen and ink piece, which was inspired by a vintage lithograph.  This drawing portrays the wonderful relationship between sisters of all ages.

Here are my dear friends Melissa, Casandra and Lyric when they were very young.

Thank you for dropping by, your comments give me much joy.  May blessing and hope be yours, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday.

Lady of the Mist -Paint Party Friday

I am going to be away from my computer for a few days and it has been incredibly busy this week, hence I am re-posting a pen and ink drawing done when I was in the hospital for almost two weeks, being treated for MRSA. 

Whimsical memories of the Lady of the Mist come from my imaginative childhood.

I remember sometimes thick ropes of mist would visibly move through the trees of the forest next to our home. The mist would daintily coil above fields, and tiptoe through the blueberry bushes. Sometimes I thought I saw a lovely woman with soft trailing draperies wafting to and fro, in a silent elegant dance.

As an adult, my imagination is alive and well. Early summer mornings, I sometimes catch the Lady of the Mist gracefully twirling over the ripples of the river near where I live. I once watched her whisping through a grove of oak trees, murmuring to a flock of sheep sheltering there.

Except for the sheep (who are huddled out of sight in the thicket) this Pen and Ink was my imaginative rendition of The Lady of the Mist softly dancing among the towering oak trees.

Thank you for dropping by, sweet Friends.  You are such an encouragement to my heart!  Have a blessed weekend and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Lovely Rena -Paint Party Friday

I have been so busy with life, I haven't had time to do much drawing.  That being said, I'm posting this lineart of my friend Rena, which I created in 2018 when I had a little more time!

I love how the patterns turned out.  This is in the tradition of one of my favorite artists, Alphonse Mucha.

Above you see my lovely young friend posing at the back fence of my yard.  I'm so grateful for her friendship, and her willingness to pose.  I am blessed!

Some of you wanted to see more of the ACEO's I created last month--so here you are!  This one is called "Askance," from the look on her face.

Happy Paint Party Friday, and thank you for dropping by.  I love hearing your thoughts.  Your comments are a sparkle in my day!

Reach Up - Paint Party Friday

I have been so very busy this week.  I decided to feature one of my more simple birch bark doodles.

Just for fun I'm also including this pen and ink of an old tractor. It was a Christmas gift for my sweet Papa. Enjoy!

Have a happy weekend, sweet Friends.  Thank you for dropping by--your comments put a lot of joy in my heart.  Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Bright Eyes -Paint Party Friday

This is another drawing I did awhile back.   I love the grace and artistry of the Art Nouveau style.  Alphonse Mucha is one of my favorite artists of all time.  You can often see his influence in my artwork.

Above you see my lovely reference model Lyric.  I've had the blessing of knowing her since she was born.  What a dear person she is.

Thank you for dropping by, even though I'm a bit late in getting this out.  Your comments always are a bright spot in my day!  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Dragon Breath -Paint Party Friday

Years ago I discovered a picture of a cat with fire coming out if its mouth--I saw a dragon, hence the title "Dragon Breath."

I've been incredibly busy and continue to be so--I hope you don't mind my sharing this goofy drawing from long ago.

When you peruse this piece, I hope you laugh as much as I did, as I drew it!  Thank you for dropping by, your comments are such an encouragement.  Have a happy weekend, dear Friends, and Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Tiger Burning Bright -Paint Party Friday

Good morning!  This sweet tiger is one of the two dozen or so baseball sized ACEO art cards I created over the past couple weeks.  I love tigers.  This one seems quite gentle.

Here is an acrylic I painted many years ago.  The painting is about three feet tall and hangs upstairs in the "art gallery." 

Have a happy weekend, sweet Friends.  Thank you for coming by--your comments put a lot of joy in my heart.  Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Whiskers Akimbo -Paint Party Friday

I took some time aside and made two dozen of little ACEO cards.  This whimsical little fellow is my favorite.  For those of you who don't know, these tiny art pieces are the size of a baseball card.  They're a lot of fun to do.  It will be fun to add color to them.

I hope your week has gone well.  We are expecting rain by Wednesday, then back to higher temps next week.  It has been such a mild summer.  I've enjoyed the warmth and sunshine.

Thank you for dropping by, dear Friends.  Your comments always brighten my day. Have a lovely weekend and Happy Paint Party Friday. 

She Loves Birds -Paint Party Friday

It has been an emotional, hectic week, so I'm posting one of my earlier pen and ink drawings.  Birds have always given me joy.  I love to heckle them with their own calls--it is so fun when they finally realize it is a human talking to them! 

My Daddy had the same gifting.  The birds would land on his shoulders waiting for the seed he would bring out to them.  The humming birds loved him too.  I'm sure they are all around him in heaven. 

Happy Paint Party Friday, sweet Friends--thank you SO much for dropping by.  Your comments are encouraging to my heart.  God bless you and have a GREAT weekend.

Apple Blossoms -Paint Party Friday

I did a lot of artwork this past week, as I waded through the emotions of losing one of our treasured volunteers.  This precious young man took his own life. 

I didn't have the heart to upload any of those pieces, so I've posted this drawing instead.

I love to make borders of twisted ribbon, flowers and tree branches.  This is a favorite pen and ink drawing of mine.  This one illustrates the detail which can be achieved by interlacing all those things.

Above you see my exquisite reference model,  Rena.  What a dear blessing she is to me.

Thank you for dropping by.  Your comments always brighten my day. Have a lovely week and Happy Paint Party Friday.